Awami League MP and Sramik League president Ahsanullah Master was shot dead when assailants fired on him at a party programme in a school compound near his residence in Tongi Friday afternoon.

Three more people, who suffered bullet wounds, also died —- two on the spot and one at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Awami League sources said.

Ahsanullah Master, moved to the CMH in Dhaka Cantonment from Chest Diseases Hospital at Mahakhali in a critical condition at 2:13 pm, died at 3:10 pm.

Awami League organising secretary Saber Hossain Chowdhury told UNB that despite frantic efforts till 3:05 pm, doctors at the CMH could not save his life and pronounced him dead at 3:10 pm.

Saber said Awami League president Sheikh Hasina was informed about Ahsanullah’s death.

He said Awami League presidium and central working committee meets at around 5 pm today to discuss the situation and announce a programme to protest the death.

Quoting initial reports, Saber said armed terrorists numbering 10 to 15 first opened fire on Ahsanullah from behind the podium at the school ground. Later, the terrorists came in front of him and shot him at point blank.

“It must be a hail of bullets… Otherwise, how so many people could be killed and wounded,” he said.

Earlier, Tongi police said Ahsanullah Master suffered several bullet injuries in his chest and back.

Awami League leader Adv Rahmat Ali MP was found sobbing over the phone and said, “they have gunned down Ahsanullah.”

Police said that at about 12:35 am, a group of armed men opened fire on Ahsanullah Master at Noagaon High School compound where he went to attend a conference of Awami Swechchhasebak League.

Several people, believed to be the workers of Awami League and Jubo League, were also injured in the shooting. The injured were admitted to local hospital in Tongi.

--UNB

Gunmen attack opposition rally, AL MP among 4 killed

Gunmen opened fire at an opposition rally outside the capital of Bangladesh on Friday, killing four people including a member of parliament, his party and police said.

Ahsanullah Master, a lawmaker from the main opposition Awami League, was attending a rally of the party's labour wing in the industrial town of Tongi when about 15 gunmen opened fire, said Awami League spokesman Saber Hossain Chowdhury.

Master died soon after he was brought to Dhaka's Combined Military Hospital with multiple bullet wounds in his chest, Chowdhury said.

Three other members of the party died from bullet wounds on the way to the hospital, a police official said on condition of anonymity.

No one claimed responsibility for the attack.

Hundreds of angry opposition supporters took to the streets after the shooting and smashed dozens of passing vehicles, witnesses said.

--AP

Life sketch of Ahsanullah Master

Freedom fighter Ahsanullah Master MP, gunned down by assailants in Tongi today, was born November 9, 1950 at village Haidarabad in Gazipur district.

He was elected Member of Parliament from Gazipur-2 (Sadar-Tongi) constituency in 1996 and re-elected in the October 1, 2001 election.

He joined politics through Chhatra League in 1962 when he was only 13. Later, he got involved with the main political party Awami League after graduating from Suhrawardy College in Dhaka in 1970.

Ahsanullah Master MP was president of Jatiya Sramik League, the labour front of Awami League. Earlier, he was general secretary of the Sramik League and had a key role in the movement of Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SKOP).

The veteran labour leader, who was a teacher by profession, participated in the 1971 Liberation War. He took part in direct wars at Chhaydana and Bakhra of Gachha area in Tongi. He received training as a member of Bangladesh Liberation Force (BLF), known as Mujib Bahini.

Ahsanullah Master was elected upazila chairman in 1983 and 1990. He was also convenor of Upazila Chairmen Association.

Besides, he was involved with the Teachers Association and the Committee against Women Repression as well as various socio-cultural organisations and religious institutions.

--UNB

Source: www.bangladeshinfo.com

reverse_swing

May 7, 2004, 10:43 AM

This shootout comes a day before overseas donors were due to meet in Dhaka to discuss the country's economic performance and review law and order situation before pledging new aid for the 2004-05 (July-June) fiscal year.

Zobair

May 7, 2004, 10:45 AM

One more nail in the coffin that is called "Law and Order" in our country :(

mzia

May 7, 2004, 11:51 AM

One man killed by police firing, people were demonstrating their outburst. Couple of week ago one BNP leader, younger Brother of Ex Jatio Parti Seretary Maj. Gen. (Retd) Mahmudul Hassan was killed. The incident again in the same area…